KARACHI: A major water crisis gripped Karachi on Sunday after emergency repair work on the Hub Canal cut the city’s supply from Hub Dam by nearly 60 percent, leaving millions of residents struggling with severe shortages.
According to officials from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), the damage was caused by erosion along an eight-kilometre stretch of the canal falling under the jurisdiction of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). This section lies upstream from the point known as “Zero Point,” where Wapda’s management ends, and KWSC takes over distribution.
To prevent further structural damage, Wapda was forced to drastically reduce the canal’s water flow, a move that sent shockwaves through the city’s already fragile distribution system.
“Karachi is currently receiving only 40 million gallons per day (MGD) from the Hub Dam, compared to the usual 100 MGD,” confirmed the KWSC chief engineer.
Residents Brace for Long Hours Without Water
The sharp drop has already left taps running dry across several areas, particularly in the western, central, and Keamari districts. Officials warned that even once the repair work concludes, it will take at least 12 hours for water to travel from the dam to the Hub Pumping Station, delaying any immediate relief.
“The repairs are expected to finish by 4pm on Sunday, but the water supply will not normalize right away,” KWSC said in a statement, urging citizens to conserve water and apologizing for the inconvenience.
Political Blame Game
The crisis quickly turned political, with MQM-P senior leader and MNA Syed Aminul Haque lashing out at both the Sindh government and KWSC. He accused them of “criminal negligence and deep-rooted corruption” that has left Karachi’s residents “thirsting for every drop.”
“The much-publicised 100 MGD Hub Canal project has failed to deliver. People in Orangi, Surjani, Baldia, Keamari, Korangi, Landhi, North Karachi, Malir, and Shah Faisal Colony are still without water,” Haque said in a statement.
He went on to blame the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led provincial government for chronic mismanagement, pointing out that despite heavy monsoon rains, many neighborhoods remain submerged in sewage water. He also criticized Jamaat-i-Islami, claiming their role had been “limited to empty slogans” rather than real solutions.
“Drainage projects exist only on paper, while central Karachi and adjoining areas drown in sewage every monsoon,” he added, calling for accountability and practical measures.
“Karachi’s citizens pay their taxes but are repaid with broken infrastructure, garbage on streets, and empty promises. What the city needs is action, not speeches,” the MQM leader stressed.
